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Double Trouble Aquathon

Swim, run, swim, run – there’s no doubt that this was a hard way to end the Tribe’s season: Get the heart rate going, then regain composure following the run to plunge back in for the swim. It’s a hard skill to master, but at 7.30am on Sunday 60 competitors gathered at Northern Beaches Leisure Centre to do just that and ‘beat the clock’.

Relaxing before the swim start.

Munchkins and Juniors hit the pool first with a mass start – 50m for the Munchkins and 150m for the Juniors; then out onto the run with a six-lap 500m fast and furious sprint. Some great running from Kacey Elsdon-Bell saw her take on the boys, showing impressive stamina for a young athlete. Not to be out-done, young Sebastian Horne fought back hard in the pool to take back the lead.

A great family morning for the kids and adults.

As soon as the Munchkins and Juniors had finished their race safely; the Enticer ‘anything goes’ wave was up. The ‘anything goes’ part (always a feature of our races) means that competitors can wear fins, snorkels, and generally anything they like to help them complete the race: It’s about encouragement and enjoyment. So it was good to see some fins out there with a great performance from Donna Marano in only her second race.

The new scoring system meant we could start the next wave five minutes later with female competitors and all teams starting together, then five minutes later again the male wave was away. The pool was awash with rivalry and some great swimmers: In the Teams category, ‘Team Hayes’ (talented swimmer Ahlanna Hayes and Troy Argent, fresh back from the Ironman 70.3 World Championships) stormed ahead. Then the race was on for second place: There was some very strong swimming from Michelle Andrejic. In the individual females, Jill Stephenson emerged at the front of the pack.

Lisa Elsdon-Bell.

Richmond Sense, Mackenzie Bagley and Dylan Viviers (Peak Performance Swimming’s coach) all contested the men’s race in the pool, but it would be Richmond’s strong legs that would lengthen the gap and take him over the line first.

It was great to see some new members giving it a go – they were the real winners by being brave and getting in the mix of things.

We are a new club and we are still learning so, although the results are posted, there are a few errors. However, most competitors know their time and the most important winnings to take away are a sense of achievement and reward. For full results click here.

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Graham Pemberton has a long service history with both the British Army and the Australian Army, serving in many areas across the globe in his 25 years service to both countries. Graham is an accomplished pilot, parachutist (over 3000 military and civilian skydives), scuba diver and climber (including ice). Graham has led many overseas expeditions including one to Mt Everest in 2004. He is one of the founding members of the Free Radicals Tribe Family Triathlon Club, and believes in being fit for life. Graham is an accredited IRONMAN coach as well as being and Australian Development coach (Triathlon) He has competed and completed IM and many 70.3 events, and is constantly coaching within the club.